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How to make your skincare routine vegan

Approved by our Clinical team | Sep 15, 2021

Side view of a woman washing her face with a foam cleanser in the mirror

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There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all skincare routine. We all have different skin types and skincare needs – not to mention different budgets and lifestyles. The good news is, there are products out there for everyone.

If you’re trying to cut out animal products, you’ll be pleased to learn that lots of beauty brands have responded to the new demand for vegan skincare. We’ll let you know some easy ways that you can swap your favourite creams and serums for something a little friendlier to the planet.

Understand the difference between cruelty-free and vegan

It’s normal to confuse these two terms, or expect them to mean the same thing, but they don’t. Many products will be both cruelty-free and vegan, but some may only tick one of these boxes.

Cruelty-free products are ones that haven’t been tested on animals. Vegan products are ones that have been made with zero products derived from or made by living creatures. Typically to be vegan, a product must be free from honey and beeswax, as well as any other products made from animals.

For ease, when looking for new products, check the label for the “Vegan Trademark” and “Leaping Bunny Logo”.

Check the eco-credentials of your existing skincare staples

Switching to a vegan skincare routine isn’t necessarily about getting rid of products you already own. It might be that your go-to brands are already vegan and cruelty-free, or that they have a vegan range with products similar to your existing faves – you won’t know until you check!

Find some new vegan and cruelty-free brands to try

In the UK, there are plenty of skincare brands offering vegan face creams, cleansers, body washes, soaps, shampoos and moisturisers.

Faith in Nature is a British brand that’s made a commitment to offering cruelty-free and fully vegan products. As an added bonus, their fruity body washes, shampoos and soaps have 99-100% natural origins and are free from harmful chemicals.

Other companies may not be completely vegan-friendly, but they may offer excellent vegan ranges:

Oh K! is a British brand inspired by Korean beauty that is currently in the process of reformulating its products to remove all animal products – until then, they have an excellent range of fully vegan products to choose from, including their soothing cucumber sheet mask.
Australian Bodycare specialises in tea tree oil products for congested and spot-prone skin. Although the range isn’t 100% vegan, nearly all of their products are suitable for vegans.
Skin Academy offers a plant-based skincare range called ZERO, with fantastic products like their 100% natural day cream.

Look for products with eco-friendly packaging

The vegan lifestyle isn’t just about the products you consume – it’s about the waste you leave behind. Lots of brands are doing their bit for the environment by introducing refillable or plastic-free packaging, or by creating pots, bottles and cartons that are fully recyclable.

All products in Skin Academy’s ZERO range from their eye cream to face wash, come in 100% recyclable packaging, using renewable materials like glass, bamboo and sugarcane. Australian Bodycare products also boast 100% recyclable packaging as well as a range of hair care so you can update your hair routine too.

Try solid soap bars

Recyclable packaging is a great way to reduce waste and environmental impact, but some companies are going even further in their quest to reduce packaging.

Faith in Nature and Eco Warrior are two brands that offer solid soap, shampoo and cleansing bars, which remove the need for plastic bottles and pumps. Soap bars are a great swap for liquid hand wash in your bathroom and kitchen when you’re cleaning your hands.

Ditch single-use products

One of the best things you can do for the environment is ditch single-use items that will end up in a landfill pile. Within the beauty world, disposable wipes are a big offender – especially when they get flushed down the toilet rather than thrown in the bin.

The good news is, alternatives to the single-use makeup wipe and cotton pad are already available. Danielle Creations has a range of reusable makeup removing cloths that simply require some warm water – as a bonus they come in plastic-free packaging. Seoulista offers a similar product, the Magic Cleanse pad, which is designed to exfoliate and cleanse.

If cleansing pads aren’t your thing a cleansing bar, like the Nivea magicbar, can help you cut down on plaster even further. Simply wet the bar, cleanse your face and gently pat dry with a towel.

Shop vegan makeup

Don’t forget makeup!

Skincare brands aren’t the only ones trying to go vegan – plenty of cosmetics companies are signing up to the pledge too. Instant Effects has an entire line that is cruelty free, as well as individual products like their 3D Lip Plumping Treatment which are vegan-friendly. Read our cruelty free makeup blog for more top tips.

For more inspiration, read our favourite vegan products, or browse our conscious buying skincare range.